Self-locking ignition and safety switch



Dec. 6 1932. BRONlsH 1,890,367

SELF LOCKING IGNITION AND S AFETY SWITCH Filed April 25. 1952 4 Shets-Sheei 1 [nvenior Q. M Brow/5% 6, 1932' G. M. BRONISH 1,890,367

SELF LOCKING IGNITION AND SAFETY SWITCH I Filed April 25, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor y. M; (Fran/11v;

/I Home y Dec. 6, 1932. e. M. BRONlSH 1,890,367.

SELF LOCKING IGNITION AND SAFETY SWITCH Filed April 25, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor flzwaorkizm f1 Home y Dec. 6, 1932. e. M. BRONISH 1,890,367

SELF LOCKING IGNITION AND SAFETY SWITCH Filed April 25. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 0 o 0 /w o 0 g W v P X\\\\\ \W\\ i x m U a o e 0 e wank m, z 46 Y .74

Inventor flllorney Patented Dec. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATE GEORGE M. BRONISH, OF EAGLE RIVER, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK A. HALL, OF EAGLE RIVER, WISCONSIN SELF-LOCKING IGNITION AND SAFETY SWITCH Application filed April 25,

This invention relates to a self locking ignition and safety switch for motor vehicles, the general object of the invention being to provide a spring plunger for initially closing the ignition circuit, means for maintaining the circuit closed after the motor begins to operate, and key operated lock means for preventing the plunger from being moved to closing position, and for preventing the motor operated means from being operated until the lock is moved to released position.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the'combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which .'Figure 1 is a front view of the casing containing the parts of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the casing with the interior part in elevation. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through parts of the casing and through portions of the plunger operated switch means.

Fig. 7 is a view of the cylinder and its piston in section with the switchcarrying piston rod in elevation.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the ,disk carried by the piston rod.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view with parts in elevation of the suction means to the cylinder.

In these drawings, the letter A indicating the casing containing the parts of the device said casing being preferably formed of one piece otmaterial with its bottom open, and said bottom is closed by a plate 1 which is locked in position by a wire 2 passing through grooves formed in the plate and through interior parts of the casing as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

A partition plate 3 is located in the upper part of the casing and divides the same into 1932. Serial N0. 607,433.

an upper small chamber, and a large lower chamber, and a cylinder 4 is located in the upper chamber and is supported on the partition and has a piston 5 therein which is preferably of the cup washer type as shown in end which yieldingly supports" a disk 9 through means of a spring 10 which normally holds the disk against the lower end of the rod 6, said dsk carries the insulating material 11 which insulates the disk from the screw and the piston rod.

A groove. 12 is formed in'an intermediate part of the rod 6. An elongated valve casing 1 13 is also mounted in the upper chamber and slidably supports the elongated valve -me1n' ber 14 which is provided with the two pairs of each pair being connected together by a passage 16. A p1pe 17 connects the valve casing 13 with the inlet manifold of the enof annular grooves 15 and 15, the grooves;

gine and apipe .18 connects the valve casing I with the upper part of the cylinder, and an. I'M

p1pe 19 connects the valve casing with the lower part of the cylinder. A spring 20 in the valve casing normally holds the k valve member 14 with the inner groove of the pair 15 in communication with the pipe '17 and the other groove of said pair is in communication with the pipe 18 so that a suction will be produced in the upper part of the cylinder when the engine is in operation which acts to draw the piston 5 and the rod 6 upwardly so that the disk 9 will bridge the contacts 21v and 22, the contact 21 being connected by a conductor 23 from a source of supply while the contact 22 is connected by a conductor 24 with the ignition system.

A third contact 25 is also engaged by the disk 9 when the same is in raised position, and this contact may be connected to other. parts of the electrical system of the vehicle by a conductor 26. l/Vhenthe valve 14 is moved against the action of the spring 20 by the handle 27, communication between the pipes 17 and 18 is closed and the pair of grooves 15' will connect the pipe 17 with the piston downwardly out of engagement with the contacts and the circuits broken.

A pair of angle shaped jaw members 28 are plvoted to the under. face of the partition or bar 3 as shown at 29 and these members are normally held against each other by the springs 30. These members are provided with the notches 31 which, when the jaws are closed, will receive the reduced part of the rod 6 formed by the groove 12 when the rod and piston are in lowered position so that the piston and rod cannot be raised until the jaw members are moved apart. A contact ring 32 is supported by the insulated member 33-on. the rear wall of the casing, and a conductor 34 connects this ring to the conductor 24. A horizontal rod 35 passes through the rear wall'of the chamber through the member 33 and through a bore in a member 36 of non-conducting material, which supports the sleeve 37 of conducting material. The rear end of the sleeve is flanged as shown at 38 and the front end of the member 36 is flanged as at 39. The spoollike member formed of the parts 36 and 37 passes between the prongs 40 of the plate 41, the upper end of which is connected to the member 3, and a spring 42 encircles the sleeve and has'one end bearing against the flange 39 and its other engaging the prongs 40. Thus this spring tends to hold the parts 36 and 37 in their forward positions, but permits them to be moved rearwardly-t'o cause the flange 38 of the sleeve 37 to contact the ring 32.

A branch conductor 43 connects a. part of the conductor 23 with the plate 41 and as spring 42 contacts the plate as well as the P sleeve 37 when said sleeve is in contact with the ring 32 current will flow from the conductor 23 through the branch 43 plate 41, spring 42, sleeve 37 into the ring 32 and then through the conductor 34 through the conductor 24 which forms part of the ignition circuit.

A spring plunger or. button 44 passes through an opening in the front of the casing and has a socket therein to receive the front end of the rod 35 with the spring 45 located in the socket and bearing against the front end of the rod so as to normally hold the button or plunger in its outward .position with a shoulder formed by an enlargement on the inner end of the plunger against a part 46 which rests against the inner face of the front wall of the casing. By pressing the button or plunger inwardly its inner end will engage the flange 39 of the member 36 so that further movement of the plunger will force the members 36 and 37 against the ring 32 and thus close the ignition circuit.

The lower end of the jaws 28, when the jaws are in closed position, will prevent the plunger 44 being moved against the flange 39 of the member 36 so that it-will be impossible to initially close the ignition circuit just described until the jaws are moved to open position.

A key operated lock 47 is located in the front wall of the casing, the key thereof being shown at 48. The barrel of the lock carries a stem 49 which is formed with a cam 50 which when turned to the position shown in Fig. 4, will move the jaws apart so that the enlarged end of the plunger or button 44 can ass through the jaws as shown inFig. 4. hen the key is turnedto lock the barrel however, the small part of the cam 13 will permit the jaws to be closed by the spring 30 which will prevent movement of the plunger 44"to switch closing position and, as before described, the notched part of the jaws engage the groove 12 in the rods 6 of the piston 5, to hold the piston in lowered position.

The member 46 is formed to prevent removal of the plunger and the latch means. Thus it will be seen that with the piston and its rod 6 held in lowered position by the jaws 28, the circuits will be broken and the jaws also prevent the plunger 44 from being pushed in to close the switch 37 and 32.

When the car is to be used, the operator in--- serts the key 48 and turns the locking barrel to a position where the cam-5O will spread apart the jaws 28 so that these jaws will not interfere with the inward movement of the plgnger 44 nor the upward movement of the r0 6.

He then pushes in on the plunger or button 44 to cause the sleeve 37 to contact the ring 32 which completes the circuit from the conductor 23 to the conductor 24 forming a art of the main circuit so that the engine of the vehicle can be started. As soon as the engine starts, a suction will be created through the top of the cylinder 4 so that the piston 5 and the rod 6 will be raised and thus the disk 9 will engage the contacts 22 and 21 so that the ignition circuit will be complete directly from the conductor 23 to the conductor-24. Then the plunger 44 is released so that the sleeve 37 will move out of engagement with the switch 32.

If desired, the operator can turn the lock to place the cam 50 in inoperative position, and remove the key for as the suction created bythe engine is still acting on the piston 5, the parts are in raised position and the jaws simply grip a part of the rod 6 below the groove 12. Then if the operator desires to stop the engine and to lock the same against unauthorized use, it will simply be necessary for him to press upon the head of the handle 27 to move the valve member 14 where the suction will enter the lower part of the cylinder 4 which will move the piston 5 and the rod 6 downwardly, thus breaking the ignition circuit between the contacts 21 and 22 1,seo,se7

the motor is started,'the suction created in the upper part of the cylinder will'move the piston 5 upwardly to complete the ignition circuit through the contacts 21 and 22. A spring 5 in the cylinder acts to hold the piston 5 1n lowered position, so that if the motor --stalls the switch is instantly opened and this will happen whether or not the key is in the lock. If the barrel is in locking position, as the spring 5 lowers the piston the jaws will engage the groove 12 and thus lock the parts in circuit breaking positions and it will be necessary to insert and turn the key before the parts can be operated again to start the motor.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readil apparent.

It is to be understood that c anges may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided that such changes fall within the swipe of the appended claims.

aving thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. A locking device for the ignition system of a motor vehiclecomprising a casing, a pair of contacts located therein, means connecting one of the contacts to a source of electrical supply, means for connecting the other contact to the ignition circuit, a cylinder in the casing, a piston therein, a piston rod connected with the piston and passing through the cylinder, a switch membervcarried by,

and insulated from the .piston rod for bridging the contacts whenthe piston is in one position, valve controlled means for connectmg either end of the cylinder to a pressure part of the motor, whereby the piston is moved to a position, when the motor is in operation, to cause the switch part carried by the rod to engage the contacts, manually operated means for adjusting the valve, manually' operated means for initiall I closing the ignition circuit when the switc member is out of contact with. the first-mentioned contacts, and lock means for holding the piston in 'aposition with the switch member out of engagement'with the contacts and preventing operation of the initial switch means.

2. ,A locking device of the ignition system,

of a motor vehicle comprising a pairpf contacts one connected'with the ignition circuit and the other with the source of supply, a-

casing in which the contacts are located, a cylin er in the casing, a piston in the cyhnder, '9. rod connected with the piston .and carrying a switchpart for bridging the contacts when the piston is in one position, means 'for connecting the upper and lower part of the cylinder to'the intake manifold of the motor of the vehicle, a manually operated valve for controlling the connection, to connect either the top of the cylinder or the bottom of the cylinder with the manifold,

manually operated means for initially clos ing the ignition circuit when the switch part is out of engagement with the contacts, jaw members for holding the rod and piston in lowered position with the switch part out of engagement with the contacts, springs for closing the jaw members, portions of the jaw membersalso acting to prevent operation of the initially 'closing means and lock' means for moving the jaws to open position.

3. A locking device for theignition system of a motor vehicle comprising a pair of contacts one connected with the ignition circuit and the other with the source of supply, a casing in which the contacts are located, a cylinder in the casing, a piston in the cylinder, a rod connected with the piston and carrying a switch part for bridging -the contacts when the piston is in one position, means for connecting the upper and lower part of the cylinder tothe intake manifold of the motor of the vehicle, a manually operated valve for controlling the connection, to-

connect either the top of the cylinder or the bottom of the cylinder with the manifold, manually operated means for initially closing the ignition circuit when the switch part is out of engagement with the contacts, jaw members for holding, the rod and piston in lowered position with the switch part outof engagement-with the contacts, springs for closing the jaw members, portions ofthe jaw membersalso acting to prevent operation of the initially closing means and lock means for moving the jaws to open position, saidinitial switch closing means comprising a stationary member electrically connected with the ignition circuit, a movable member connected with the source of supply, a plunger passing through the casing for moving the movable member against the stationary memher, the jaws preventing movement of the plunger-when in closed position but permitting movement of the plunger when in open position.

4. A locking device for the ignition system of a motor vehicle comprising a pair of contacts one connected with the ignition cir cuit and the other with the source of supply, a casing in which the contacts are'located, a cylinder in the casing, a piston in the cylinder, .a rod connected with the piston and carrying a switch partfor bridging the contacts when the piston is in one position, 1

yieldable'mea'ns for supporting said switch part from the rod, means for connecting the upper and lower part of the cylinder to the intake manifoldof the motor of the vehicle, 5 a manually operated valve for controlling the connection, to connect either the top of the cylinder or the bottom of the cylinder with the manifold, manually operated means for initially closing the ignition circuit when the switch part is out of engagement with the contacts, jaw 1nembers for holding the rod and piston in lowered position with the switch part out of engagement with the contacts, springs for closing the'jaw members,

portions of the jaw members also acting to prevent operation of the initially closing means and lock means for moving the jaws to open position. 5. A locking device for the ignition system of a motor vehicle comprising a pair of contacts one connected with the ignition circuit and the other with the source of supply, a casing in which the contacts are located, a cylinder in the casing, a piston in the cylinder, a rod connected with the piston and carrying a switch part for bridging the contacts when the piston is in one position, means for connecting the upper and lower part of the cylinder to the intake manifold of the motor of the vehicle, a manually operated valve for controlling the connection, to connect either the top of the cylinder or the bottom of the cylinder with the manifold, manually operated means for initially closing the ignition circuit when the switch part is out of engagement with the contacts, jaw members for holding the rod and piston in lowered position with the switch part out of engagement with the contacts, springs for closing the jaw members, portions of the jaw members also acting to prevent operation of the initially closing means, lock'means for moving the jaws toaopen position, and a spring for normally holding the piston in a position with the circuit broken. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE M. BRONIS H. 

